The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has rejected a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which it says affects the party’s leadership and the nomination of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The council described the ruling by Justice Peter Lifu as an academic exercise that had been overtaken by events, insisting that it would not displace an earlier judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction on the same matter.
In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC PCC said its legal team was already taking steps to challenge the judgment through the appropriate judicial channels.
The council recalled an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, Abuja, which examined the emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
According to the ADC PCC, Justice Liman had held that the transfer of leadership from Chief Ralph Nwosu to Mark did not violate the party’s constitution.
It also noted that the disputed meeting of July 2, 2025, was a stakeholders’ meeting held ahead of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of July 29, 2025, where Mark and Aregbesola emerged as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary. The council added that the NEC meeting was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The ADC PCC argued that the earlier judgment had already subjected the party’s leadership dispute to judicial scrutiny, adding that a subsequent decision could not simply set it aside without regard to the principles governing courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
The council also raised concerns about the timing of the latest judgment, linking it to the political atmosphere following the ADC presidential campaign flag-off in Sokoto and what it described as a failed APC campaign flag-off in Kaduna.
It accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to use legal and political pressure to weaken the opposition as the ADC gains momentum ahead of the elections.
The council further recalled that Justice Lifu had previously delivered a judgment declaring the ADC deregistered, which was later set aside by the Court of Appeal. It also expressed concern over allegations of pressure and political interference surrounding the latest proceedings, calling for the independence and integrity of the judiciary to be protected.
Despite the development, the ADC PCC maintained that Mark remained the party’s recognised National Chairman, while Aregbesola continued to serve as National Secretary.
It urged party members, candidates and supporters across the country to remain calm and continue their campaigns, insisting that the ruling would not distract the party from its political activities.
The council said its legal team was taking steps to seek appropriate interim relief, including a stay of execution where legally applicable, before proceeding with an appeal.
Reaffirming its commitment to the party’s campaign, the ADC PCC said it remained united and determined to provide Nigerians with an alternative political platform.
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